Ski pole



Oct. 4-, 1938. A. s. WRIGHT 2,131,863

SKi POLE Filed Dec. 50, 1936 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 T OFFIQE SKI POLE Andrew S. Wright, Springfield,Mass. Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,218 1 Claim. (01. wo-11.3w)

This invention relates to improvements in skiing equipment and isdirected more particularly to the provisionof, an improved ski-pole.

Ski-poles of usual form comprise a longitudinal pole member having amore or less pointed lower end part for piercing the snow and a ringmember spaced from but adjacent the lower end for preventing the polefrom digging too deep into the snow. This invention is particularlyconcerned with the construction of this'ring member.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide aski-pole of novel form which iseasy and economical to manufacture andwhich is at the same time efficient in operation and adapted toWithstand considerable abuse. The

construction is such that the pole is relatively lightin "weight, as isdesirable, yet it is sturdy and strong q As particular features of thisinvention the main body of the ring member is formed from a single pieceof strong yet bendable material which is bent into the form of a ring soas. to have opposite ends in adjacency and means is provided to firmlyand securely hold these ends together.

As will appear, this means includes a novel sleeve member which is notonly relatively inexpensive but which adapts itself to ready assemblingof the parts.

It is usual to form these ring members from lengths of some toughyetlight-weight material,

such as reed or some other bamboo-like material. While such materialshave many desirable advantages and are, therefore, popularly used, theyhave certain characteristics which cause manufacturing difficulties andit is an object of this invention to overcome these difiiculties.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent after a reading of the following description, reference bemghad to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a ski-pole embodying the featuresof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a ring-forming member of the invention; Fig. 3is a plan view of a sleeve member of th invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ring-forming parts in assembled relation;and

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view showing a modified form of ring member.

' Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will befully described.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a longitudinal member 2 which commonly consistsof a bamboo rod or some other relatively rigidbut light-weight material.What may be called a handle, in the form of a strap 4, is shown suitablyattached to the upper part ofthe longitudinal member and this commonlyis formed of leather or some'other similar material. 7 5

It is usual to provide a metallic sleeve 5 around the lower end portionof the longitudinal member 2 and then to this may be secured in some Waya pointed spikepart 6, as shown. The sleeve 5 lendsstrengthrand rigidityto the pole, while 10 the spike is for piercing the skiing surface.

InFig. 2 there is shown a ring-forming member it] which consists of arod-like length 8 of some. bendable material, such as reed, bamboo, orthe like. The rod 8 is usually substantially l5 circular in crosssection and it is bent so as to bring its opposite end portions 9 intoadjacency.

It was. mentioned above that there were certain characteristics commonlyfound inthese ring-forming members which presented manu- 20 facturingdifficulties. That is to say, reeds or other bamboo-like material havemany joints and any given length thereof invariably has its oppositeends of different diameters. 1

Thus, it will be appreciated, when the rods 8 25 are bent intoring-forming position, the adjacent ends thereof, being of diiferentdiameters, do not neatly come together and are only secured to-. getherwith difficulty. That is to say, one end will sometimes be as much astwice as great in 30 7 diameter as the otherend of the rod so that, itis obvious, it is therefore not only difficultto secure them together atall but then only with loss of efiiciency.

According to my invention, I provide a sleeve 35 which, as will appear,may vary in form and which is adapted to receive the adjacent endportions 9 of the rod 8. This sleeve, represented by 12in Fig. 3 isadapted to fit around the end portions of the rod regardless of theirdiameters 40 and to hold them in adjacency. The end portions 9 may be inabutting or overlapping relation or may be mitred.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the sleeve l2 takesthe form of a tubular 45 member formed of some cellulose plasticmaterial, such as cellulose acetate. This material is not onlyrelatively inexpensive and may be easily obtained in tubes of varioussizes so as to accommodate the varying diameters of the rods, but 50 ithas the further very definite advantage that it may be caused to shrinkand snugly embrace an object.

The sleeve receives the end portion 9 which may be in abutting endrelation and is softened 55 in some suitable way so that on hardening itshrinks tightly about and snugly embraces the end portions of the member8 so as to securely hold the said ends together providing asubstantially unitary ring structure.

It will be appreciated that while the sleeve l2 may be originallysubstantially the same diameter throughout its length, it is of such anature that after softening it shrinks to conform to and snugly embracethe varying diameters of the end portions 9. The sleeve tightly gripsthe said end portions so as to firmly hold the rod in ringformingrelation. The sleeve l2 has the further advantage of being relativelythin so as not to produce any objectionable projections or bulging onthe ring.

The sleeve may be softened before or after as sembling with the ringmember and this may be done in various ways. For instance, the materialis of such a nature that it shrinks when subjected to warm water or thelike.

If desired, further means may be provided for securing the sleeve I2 tothe ring-forming member. Such means may take the form of tacks or nailsM which extend through the sleeve l2 and into the end portions 9.

According to a modified form of the invention, the sleeve may be formedof some other relatively thin material in tube form, such as arelatively light-weight metal. This sleeve, indicated by I2, may receivethe adjoining end portions of the ring-forming member 8 in the same wayas the sleeve 12.

The sleeve l2, being relatively thin and more or less collapsible, mayhave its opposite end portions crimped in some way, as indicated at I5,so as to grip the end portions of the rod tightly. Then, if desired,nails, tacks, or the like Hi may be provided to more firmly secure thesleeve to the ring-forming member.

Here again the sleeve is relatively thin, lightweight and inexpensiveand does not produce any objectionable projections on the ring, butinstead conforms to the diameters of the opposite end portions of thering.

It is desired to point out that the ring I is arranged concentrically ofthe rod 2 adjacent the lower end thereof. Fastening means, preferably inthe form of flexible straps [6, are provided to hold the ring in place,and this means is of usual form and does not comprise any part of thisinvention.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect toa preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto sincemany changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claimand secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

As a new article of manufacture, a ski-pole of the class describedcomprising in combination, a longitudinally-extending rod member, a ringmember secured thereto concentrically thereof adjacent one end thereof,said ring member consisting of a single length of bamboo material havingopposite ends of unequal outside diameters and bent so that said endsare in abutting relation, and a sleeve member extending around theopposite end portions of said length of bamboo material, said sleevemember consisting of a cellulose plastic tube which is normally ofuniform diameter throughout its length shrunk about said end portions byapplication of a solvent of the plastic material so as to conform to theoutside diameters thereof.

ANDREW S. WRIGHT.

